805 research outputs found
Zinc biofortification of cereals: problems and solutions
No full textThe goal of biofortification is to develop plants that have an increased content of bioavailable nutrients in their edible parts. Cereals serve as the main staple food for a large proportion of the world population but have the shortcoming, from a nutrition perspective, of being low in zinc and other essential nutrients. Major bottlenecks in plant biofortification appear to be the root-shoot barrier and--in cereals--the process of grain filling. New findings demonstrate that the root-shoot distribution of zinc is controlled mainly by heavy metal transporting P1B-ATPases and the metal tolerance protein (MTP) family. A greater understanding of zinc transport is important to improve crop quality and also to help alleviate accumulation of any toxic metals
The emerging role of BK virus in kidney transplantation
No full textIn summary, the studies in this thesis show that immunosuppression with tacrolimus carries a higher risk of BKPyV reactivation and pathology and that treatment with CsA or an mTOR inhibitor can then be considered. In addition, it is possible to differentiate between BKPyVAN and rejection with FACS and this method can be used to monitor the effectiveness of anti-rejection treatment or BKPyV-related treatment via immune profiles. BKPyV also has the potential to circumvent the immune system via viral miRNA, whereby the viral miRNAs largely follow the amount of viral DNA, but for which more research is needed to better understand complex expression differences of the miRNA during different phases of infection
Improving clinical management in ANCA-associated vasculitis
No full textIn ANCA-associated small vessel vasculitis, patients may present with life threatening rapid clinical decline due to single or multiple organ involvement, especially targeting kidney and lungs (1). The sooner the diagnosis is made, the sooner appropriate and efficacious therapy can be installed. In an ideal situation, patient-tailored therapy should be available, optimizing the risk/benefit ratio of treatment, especially since the burden of toxicity of the induction and maintenance agents of choice can be huge. In this view, duration of maintenance therapy is also important and both choices of specific agents as well as the duration of treatment may have implications for the risks of morbidity, mortality and the quality of life. Following the initial treatment phase, there are several known risk factors for relapse and poor long term prognosis. In this thesis, we go into these factors to improve the clinical management and outcome of ANCA-associated vasculitis
Treatment outcomes in ANCA-associated vasculitis: Determinants of efficacy and toxicity
No full textIn the last 50 years, ANCA-associated vasculitis changed from a lethal disease to a chronic disease with a much better life expectancy. This has led to new challenges in its treatment. For example, patients still experience frequent relapses of vasculitis, resulting in damage from disease activity and adverse effects of treatment. As a result, patients experience limitations in daily activities, even after successful treatment. A personalised treatment might improve the balance between efficacy and toxicity of treatment. In this thesis, we show that several genes affect efficacy and toxicity of drugs used for vasculitis. If this knowledge is expanded on in independent research, we will be closer to a personalised treatment. We have shown that classification based on ANCA type is important, although some geographical differences cannot be explained by ANCA type alone. Patients receiving azathioprine maintenance therapy have an increased risk of developing hypersensitivity for this drug than previously assumed. Its symptoms strongly resemble an infection or disease relapse. It is important to be aware of this adverse effect, since it can simply be treated by stopping and replacing azathioprine. Lastly, it is important to study a rehabilitation or training programme to improve daily functioning. Because every vasculitis patient is unique, among other reasons because of differences in organ involvement, the individual patient should be considered instead of developing one training programme for all vasculitis patients
Restrainting by language and identity in the novels by Michael Zeller – "Die Reise nach Samosch" and Stephan Wackwitz – "Ein unsichtbares Land"
No full textMichael Zeller und Stephan Wackwitz gehören zu der Enkelgeneration, die sich auf der Spurensuche nach der eigenen Familiengeschichte befindet. In "Die Reise nach Samosch" von Michael Zeller versucht der junge Schriftsteller Sebastian, die Familiengeschichte für seine aus Oppeln (Opole) stammende Großmutter zu rekonstruieren. Diese erlebte während der Kriegs- und Nachkriegszeit traumatisierende Geschichten. Ihr Enkel Sebastian erfährt während der Aufarbeitung der Familiengeschichte, dass sein leiblicher Großvater nicht Deutscher, sondern Pole war. Stephan Wackwitz befasst sich dagegen in "Ein unsichtbares Land" mit dem Tagebuch seines Großvaters, der als begeisterter Nationalist im Ersten Weltkrieg kämpfte und in Regionen wirkte, die früher Deutschland angehörten (Deutsch-Südwest Afrika, Oberschlesien). Der Vater erlebte den Zweiten Weltkrieg in amerikanischer Gefangenschaft. Der Autor versucht, die Motivation des Großvaters sowie des Vaters für ihre Lebenseinstellungen zu untersuchen. In dem Beitrag werden die Erzählstrategien beider Autoren verfolgt, die sie zur Pflege der Erinnerungskultur nutzen. Dieser Ansatz zielt darauf ab, den Nachweis zu erbringen, inwieweit Raumkonstellationen als signifikante Erinnerungsträger in den Romanen von Zeller und Wackwitz zu betrachten sind. Die Familienromane der Enkelgeneration werden dabei als eine sinnvolle Plattform für die Aufarbeitung der oft dramatischen historischen Prozesse (Nationalsozialismus, Kommunismus) der 1930er- und 1940er-Jahre in Mitteleuropa betrachtet.Michael Zeller and Stephan Wackwitz belong to the generation of grandchildren who search traces of their own family history. In the novel "Die Reise nach Samosch" by Michael Zeller a young writer Sebastian tries to reconstruct his family history for his grandmother, who comes from Opole (Oppeln in German). She experienced traumatizing stories during the war and after it. Her grandson, a young writer, finds out while working on the family chronicle that his biological grandfather was not a German but a Pole when working on the family chronicle. Stephan Wackwitz, in turn, deals with a diary of his grandfather who worked in southeast Africa and Upper Silesia – these lands belonged to Germany before. He fought in the First World War as an zealous nationalist. The author’s father spent the Second World War in the American captivity. The author tries to explore his grandfather’s and father’s motivation for their attitudes in their lives. I would like to examine and reveal the strategies used by both authors, as presented in the process of their ancestors’ coping with the culture of remembering. The aim of the paper is to provide evidence for the extent to which spatial constellations in the novels by Zeller and Wackwitz are to be viewed as significant memory carriers. I consider family novels of the generations of grandsons a meaningful platform for presenting very problematic historical processes (national socialism, communism) in 1930s and 1940s in central Europe.Michael Zeller i Stephan Wackwitz należą do tzw. pokolenia wnuków, które szuka śladów historii własnej rodziny. W powieści Michaela Zellera "Die Reise nach Samosch" młody pisarz Sebastian próbuje zrekonstruować rodzinną historię jako wnuk babci pochodzącej z Opola (niem. Oppeln). W czasie wojny i zaraz po wojnie doświadczyła ona traumatycznych przeżyć. Jej wnuk, młody pisarz, dowiaduje się podczas pracy nad kroniką rodzinną, że jego dziadek nie był Niemcem, lecz Polakiem. Stephan Wackwitz z kolei bada pamiętnik swojego dziadka, który stacjonował w Afryce Południowo-Wschodniej i na Górnym Śląsku – należących wówczas do terytoriów niemieckich. Będąc entuzjastycznym nacjonalistą walczył w I wojnie światowej. Ojciec Stephana przeżył II wojnę światową w amerykańskiej niewoli. Pisarz próbuje zrozumieć postawy życiowe swojego dziadka i ojca oraz ich motywację. W artykule podjęto próbę prześledzenia strategii obydwu autorów, które wykorzystali oni do rozrachunku z kulturą pamięci własnych przodków. Potraktowano przy tym powieści rodzinne pisane przez pokolenie wnuków jako interesującą platformę do dyskusji nad często bardzo problematycznymi procesami historycznymi w Europie Środkowej (narodowy socjalizm, komunizm) lat 30. i 40. XX wieku
Off balance: Regulatory and effector T cells in the pathogenesis of ANCA associated vasculitis
No full textAnti-neutrophil cytoplasmatic auto-antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV) are a group of systemic autoimmune diseases in which small to medium sized vessels are inflamed. Although the disease etiology is not fully understood, it has been shown that T lymphocytes play a major role in the pathogenesis. In this thesis Dekkema studied the balance between regulatory T (Tregs) and effector T (Teffs) cells in AAV.In this thesis, Dekkema studied why Tregs in AAV have a diminished suppressive function and found that this is partly due to increased expression of microRNAs. microRNAs can inhibit protein synthesis. Tregs of AAV patients had higher levels of miR-142-3p which led to diminished function. Interestingly, the diminished function due to miR-142-3p overexpression could be restored in vitro with Treg stimulating medication.Moreover, also the expression of markers on Tregs, which are also important for their function, were changed. Tregs of patients that experienced a relapse within one year after sampling, the expression of CCR5 was significantly lowered. This offers a new opportunity to monitor disease activity.Besides Tregs, Teffs play an important role in active disease, markers originated from Teffs can be found in blood and urine. The detection of soluble CD25 in urine and blood was found to be an important marker for active renal disease.All in all, the work presented in this thesis contributes to the knowledge of Tregs and Teffs in ANCA vasculitis and might offer new options in the detection, follow up and treatment
Consequences of disease and treatment in ANCA-associated vasculitis
No full textANCA-geassocieerde vasculitis (AAV) zijn auto-immuunziekten die ontstekingen veroorzaken in de kleine tot middelgrote bloedvaten. Elk orgaan in het lichaam kan in het ziekteproces betrokken raken, wat aanleiding geeft tot een zeer gevarieerde klinische presentatie. AAV zijn chronische, recidiverende aandoeningen die in remissie kunnen worden gebracht met immuunsuppressiva, afweeronderdrukkende medicijnen. Zowel de ziekte zelf als de behandeling veroorzaakt schade op korte- en lange termijn. Deze schade draagt bij aan een verlaagde kwaliteit van leven en slechtere prognose op langere termijn. In het eerste deel van dit proefschrift worden de gevolgen van de ziekte en de behandeling voor vruchtbaarheid en zwangerschap bij vrouwen en kwaliteit van leven in relatie met testosteron bij mannen onderzocht. Met name behandeling met cyclophosphamide heeft een ongunstig effect op de vruchtbaarheid. wij laten zien dat dit risico tegenwoordig lager is bij de huidige behandelprotocollen met lagere cumulatieve doseringen. De uitkomsten van zwangerschap waren gunstig voor zowel moeder als kind. Remissie van de ziekte lijkt een belangrijke voorwaarde voor dergelijke goede uitkomst. Bij een gedeelte van de mannen blijkt androgeen deficiëntie een rol te spelen bij vermoeidheid en kwaliteit van leven. Meer onderzoek naar dit fenomeen zal uit moeten wijzen wat de rol voor substitutietherapie is in geval van androgeen deficiëntie in deze populatie. Deel twee richt zich met name op het vinden van beter afgestemde behandelingen. Geïndividualiseerde prednisolon behandelingen bieden mogelijk een betere tolerantie en veiligheidsprofiel dan gestandaardiseerde behandeling door meer inzicht in de individuele gevoeligheid voor prednisolon. Het gebruik van trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole voor patiënten met een gelimiteerde vorm van de ziekte en het gebruik van mycphenolate mofetil voor patiënten met recidiverende ziekte bleken waardevolle toevoegingen aan de huidige behandelprotocollen. Concluderend geeft dit proefschrift meer inzicht in enkele gevolgen van AAV en biedt het enkele behandelingsopties ter vermindering van schade
Author Correction: A Peptoid Delivers CoQ-derivative to Plant Mitochondria via Endocytosis
No full textAn amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper
Polonica in Corps of Quartermasters of k.u.k. Army High Command in Vienna War Archives (June-July 1918)
No full textW trakcie kwerendy w 2021 r. w Archiwum Państwowym w Wiedniu autor przeprowadził rejestrację poloników w Archiwum Wojny (Kriegsarchiv), w zespole Naczelnej Komendy Armii (Armeeoberkommando – AOK), w podzespole Oddział Kwatermistrzowski (Quartiermeisterabteilung – Qu.Abt.). W przebadanych 10 kartonach (nr 2537–2546), zawierających dokumenty z 1918 r., zarejestrowano liczne polonika. Materiały dotyczą spraw wojskowości i państwowości polskiej oraz c. i k. administracji wojskowej na ziemiach polskich – okupacji w Królestwie Polskim i w Galicji. W dokumentach pojawiają się nazwiska znanych osobistości, jak minister spraw zagranicznych Austro-Węgier Stephan Burián, gen. Jan Dowbor-Muśnicki, minister Agenor Gołuchowski, dyrektor Banku Handlowego w Warszawie Stanisław Karłowski, delegat Rady Regencyjnej Jerzy Tarnowski, minister spraw wewnętrznych Jan Stecki, premier Jan Steczkowski, komisarz rządu polskiego Juliusz Zdanowski.During queries conducted in 2021 in the State Archive in Vienna, the author has registered the Polonica in the War Archives (Kriegsarchiv), in the fond of Army High Command (Armeeoberkommando – AOK), in sub-collection Corps of Quartermasters (Quartiermeisterabteilung – Qu.Abt.). Ten boxes were searched (No. 2537–2546), containing documents dated 1918; numerous polonica were found. Recorded materials pertain to the matters of Polish military and statehood, k.u.k military administration in Polish territories – occupation of the Kingdom of Poland and Galicia. Documents contain the names of distinguished persons, such as Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Austro-Hungary Stephan Burián, General Jan Dowbor-Muśnicki, Minister Agenor Gołuchowski, Director of Bank Handlowy in Warsaw Stanisław Karłowski, delegate of Regency Council Jerzy Tarnowski, Minister of Interior Jan Stecki, Prime Minister Jan Steczkowski, Commissioner of the Government of Poland Juliusz Zdanowski
"Falsche" und "historische" Wirklichkeit:Stephan Hermlins intertextueller Brückenschlag zu Paul Celan
No full textThe article focuses on East German author Stephan Hermlin, his short story „Corneliusbrücke" (1968) and the intertextual references to Paul Celans poem „Du liegst" (1967). Hermlin is in moderate opposition to the socialist realism: He reflects the conflict between private and collective memory.
Skepsis gegenüber dem sozialistischen Realismus, Gedächtnis als poetologischer Zentralbegriff, Verwebung von Zeit- und Wirklichkeitsebenen, Wahrnehmung von Wirklichkeit statt ihrer Darstellung, Erinnerung durch Sprache, Konflikt zwischen privater und kollektiver Erinnerun
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